NORMAL CHEST CT PREVALENCE IN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PATIENTS: A REPORT OF 791 CASES

Deniz Doğan^{1, *}, Ferhat Cüce², Sinan Akay², Tunahan Ayaz³, Derya Kınık¹, Ümit Savaşçı³, Yakup Arslan¹, Gonca Fidan³, Nesrin Öcal¹, Gülden Yılmaz³, Cantürk Taşçı¹

¹Department of Pulmonology, Health Science University, Gulhane Training, and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey - ²Department of Radiology, Health Science University, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey - ³Department of Infectious Diseases, Health Science University, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to better understand the role of chest CT as an initial workup tool among all COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of patients that were suspected for COVID-19. All patients who had both noncontrast chest CT scan with RT-PCR test results included in the study. Symptomatic patients were divided into four groups according to time between the onset of symptoms and chest CT; ≤ 4 days, 5-8 days, 9- 13 days, and ≥14 days. Chest CT findings according to symptom status, duration, and RT-PCR positivity were evaluated.

Results: Data for a total of 791 patients were evaluated. The mean patient age was 51.7 ± 19.7 years. 459 (58%) patients were male, and 332 (42%) were female. 55.1% of patients had positive and 44.9% negative RT-PCR tests. Typical, indeterminate, atypical and negative chest CT findings were seen in 241 (30.5%), 131 (16.6%), 154 (19.5%), and 265 (33.5%) patients, respectively. Among 355 patients with negative RT-PCR results, 152 (42.8%) had typical or indeterminate chest CT findings. Asymptomatic patients had a 91.9% of RT-PCR positivity. Only 123 (61.5%) patients had typical or indeterminate CT findings among symptomatic and RT-PCR positive cohort.

Conclusion: The greatest value of our study is in demonstrating the value of chest CT in both patients that had symptoms but had negative RT-PCR test results and insignificance of chest CT in asymptomatic but had suspected contact with COVID-19 patients.